"Tell me," said David. "Are there many lovers like you in Rome?"
"Some half a score that I have heard of, and I doubt not there be many."
"'Tis the candle of the Lord—the preparation of the heart of man," said David. "I do believe his arrow shall be that of love."
"This feeling in me has kindled a great desire," said Vergilius. "I burn for knowledge."
Then said the young Jew: "Let us find my kinsman, Zacharias—a priest of holy life and great learning. Through his aged wife a miracle has been accomplished. I learn that she has given birth, and many have journeyed far to see the child. There be some who say that he is, indeed, the king of promise, albeit I have no such opinion."
"Why?"
"There shall be signs in the deep of the heavens, and we have not seen them."
"Where may we find the priest?"
"In the village of Ain Karim, yonder."
They could see its low dwellings and the dome of its synagogue. The Roman halted near the abode of Zacharias, while David took their followers to the inn. Suddenly the young Roman saw an aged priest approaching with a child in his arms.